Purchasing - July 14, 2005

It's been over 41 years since Ford Motor Company debuted the Mustang, a car that would go on to inspire songs, star in movies, and delight drivers worldwide. The latest edition, the all-new 2005 model, has been getting rave reviews since it jumped off the assembly line and into dealer showrooms. The reason: Beyond its good looks, the car, say all those who have tested it, is eminently driveable.

• CPI Edition
• Bulk Packaging
• Product mix shifts
• Chemicals
• Chemical pricing & supply report
• Capacity continues to shift overseas
• Demand is unsettled
• Citric acid prices stable, but trend points up
• Buyers try to catch their breath while on price ride
• Agencies take actions on prices
• Food and Beverage Report
• Recipe for Success

• Departments
• Buylines
• Who's News
• Research Update
• Kudos
• A new strategy with a historic perspective
• Two new inductees into the Billion Dollar Roundtable
• Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain?
• ITW uses acquisition to kick-start spend analysis
• Buyers say manufacturing is spinning its wheels
• Software news
• Power to change
• Inside Purchasing
• The door is open
• Logistics
• What to consider before an e-sourcing event
• What's Hot
• West Coast port congestion may get some relief
• Online sourcing emphasizes deep carrier evaluation
• RFID News
• DHL to focus on quality, not low-cost in U.S. market
• U.S. ports on both coasts assess cargo surcharges
• MRO
• GE receives patent for vPayment settlement tool
• What's Hot
• Conference set for Seattle
• Grainger spruces up branches; now has retail look and feel
• Office Technologies
• Smart MFPs streamline processes and reduce costs
• Professional Profile
• VP's business perspective brings new strategy to Dow Ventures' purchasing
• Readers Sound Off
• Tips for doing business in China

• Electronics and Technology News
• Lead Free Update
• What's Hot
• Exclusive Electronics Business Report
• Business improves
• Independent Distribution
• RoHS may create some semiconductor shortages
• Intellectual Property
• Chip IP market grows despite much consolidation
• Memory ICS
• DRAM tags will stay low through rest of the year
• Passives
• Saving board space drives integrated passive device use
• Semiconductors
• Chinese foundry growth slows

• Features
• Automating the Services Buy
• Software fits Levi Strauss & Co.
• Best Practices
• Team breathes new life to indirect procurement
• Top Semiconductor Spenders
• Why capital spending matters

• Logistics
• Logistics
• Efficiency is key to global sourcing
• Midyear Logistics Update
• Global supply chain raises the bar for logistics

• Metals
• What's Hot
• Metals Chips
• Aluminum
• Stockpiles rise 7.5% to four-year high
• RUSAL goal is to be top world smelter
• Base Metals
• Mining chiefs predict more supply consolidation
• Suppliers want China trade
• Copper
• Phelps Dodge CEO sees red metal shortage
• Exclusive Business Data
• Metalworking isn't bustling
• Specialty Steel
• Guaranteed satisfaction is a never-ending quest
• Stainless Steel
• High prices are changing demand and supply dynamics
• Steel
• Steelscape expands processing into Southeast
• R&D project slated for high manganese grades
• Titanium
• World titanium sponge supplies are limited

• News
• Economy
• How Supply Managers See Business
• Prices
• Factors Affecting Product Cost
• Supply
• What's Happening in Markets
• Tip Sheet
• Key Metrics and Supply Alert